24 stars at Concours of Elegance 2023

Right royal showstoppers

Almost 1000 cars graced Hampton Court Palace, on the edge of London in the UK, on 1-3 September as Concours of Elegance returned for 2023.

This year’s mouth-watering line-up included Le Mans winners, to celebrate the centenary of the 24-hour race, spectacular coachbuilt classic cars and rarities never before seen in Britain. 

Here are some of Classic & Sports Car’s favourites from this year’s event.

1. 1935 Hoffman X-8

The body shape of this unique Hoffman is somewhat misleading; its hatchback lines belie its size.

Even casting a shadow over the hefty Bentley S1 Continental parked next to it, the Hoffman was hard to miss.

Created as part of an unsuccessful bid to take over the Hudson Motor Company in the 1930s, this one-off concept made its UK debut at Hampton Court Palace.

2. 1967 Ferrari 275GTB/4

This elegant Ferrari was one of a number of Prancing Horses at Concours of Elegance. 

It’s recently returned to its original Azzurro blue finish after it was repainted by a previous owner. 

The fact that this car is owned by automotive guru Gordon Murray is testament to its driver-focused design and enduring desirability.

3. 1934 Bugatti Type 59

Enthusiast Fritz Burkard brought a selection of his Switzerland-based Pearl Collection to this year’s Concours of Elegance. 

This one-of-six 1934 Bugatti Type 59, which counts King Leopold III of Belgium among its list of past owners, was one of the highlights. 

Originally built as a Grand Prix racer, the Type 59 was later repurposed for sports-car competitions – it wears its battle scars with pride.

4. 1980 Lotus Essex Turbo Esprit

A striking colour scheme ensured this limited-edition Esprit stood out in the Club Trophy competition.

Around 45 Essex Turbos were built to celebrate Lotus Formula One team and Essex Petroleum’s new partnership for the 1980 season, with a livery that echoed the latest F1 car.

5. 1966 Mercedes-Benz 600

It was difficult to ignore this elegant behemoth of a Mercedes-Benz in Sunday’s car club display.

The German marque used its engineering might to establish the W100 600 at the top of the luxury-car pecking order.

This example’s maroon paintwork was the icing on the cake.

6. 1953 Jaguar C-type

It’s refreshing to see any classic racing car that’s a little rough around the edges – it proves they’re still very much used and enjoyed.

This Jaguar C-type was campaigned in the BRDC Sports Racing Cars in the 1950s and more recently at Goodwood Revival.

7. 1971 Maserati Quattroporte Prototipo Frua

This Frua-penned interpretation of the Maserati Quattroporte was actually based on the marque’s Indy chassis.

The car at Concours of Elegance was unveiled at the Paris Salon de l’Automobile in 1971 with five-time Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio on hand to introduce the V8-powered saloon to the media. 

It’s one of just two original Quattroporte concepts built by Carrozzeria Frua.

8. 1989 Aston Martin V8 Zagato

The boxy V8 Zagato was a far cry from the swoopy cars produced by Aston Martin’s previous tie-ups with the Italian coachbuilder.

Just 52 were made, based on a lightened version of the V8 Vantage.

This striking green example caught our attention in Saturday’s Levitt Concours.

9. 1999 Fiat Panda 4x4

It was impossible to walk past this little Fiat Panda 4x4 without cracking a smile. 

Despite being displayed amongst world-class classic cars, this rugged off-roader still managed to draw a crowd.

With simple wheels, a set of spotlights and period-correct skis up top, it certainly won us over.

10. 1960 Abarth 1000 La Principessa

Up next, a very different type of Italian oddity…

Wrapped in a body designed by Pinin Farina and powered by a 1000cc engine, this slippery record-breaker was a joint venture between Fiat and Abarth.

Using the Monza circuit in Italy, the 1.2m-tall Abarth collected multiple world records for its speed over long distances – it was another highlight of the eclectic Pearl Collection.

11. 2003 Bentley Speed 8

The 2003 Speed 8 was part of a display of Le Mans winners that also included some of Bentley’s earliest endurance heroes. 

Guy Smith, Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello piloted the Speed 8 to victory at the 24-hour race.

It was the marque’s first Le Mans victory since Speed Six ‘Old Number One’ placed first in 1930.

12. 1964 Facel Vega Facel II

This Facel II was used for Christmas visits to the south of France in the 1960s and ’70s. 

A recent restoration means it probably looks as fresh today as it did on these Continental road trips.

Once a rival to luxury GTs from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin, the Chrysler V8-powered Facel II is a rare spot.

13. 1963 Apollo 3500 GT Spyder

A combination of Italian flair and American muscle should’ve made this forgotten Ferrari rival a success, but financial woes struck down the 3500 GT Spyder before it found its groove.

It’s believed just five 3500 GT Spyders still exist, and this car is extra special because it was the original prototype, too.

14. 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental

No stranger to international automotive events, this Phantom II Continental was displayed at the 1934 Olympia Motor Show when it was new.

With a huge six-cylinder engine under the bonnet, the Park Ward-bodied Phantom II could reach 92mph.

Restored in the 2000s, this car has been shown at both Pebble Beach and the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

15. 1913 Hispano-Suiza 15/45HP ‘Alfonso XIII’

The tricks that Hispano-Suiza learnt in motorsport were poured into the roadgoing 15/45HP.

Affectionately known as the Alfonso XIII, after the Spanish king of the time, the lightweight racer was fairly advanced for its day.

Around 500 15/45HPs were made before the outbreak of WW1.

16. 1955 Maserati A6GCS Frua Spider

Three open-top versions of the motorsport-inspired A6GCS were built by Carrozzeria Frua of Turin, and just two survive.

Commissioned by the official Maserati dealer for Rome, the 170bhp Frua Spider won Best in Show at Villa d’Este in Italy in 2010.

Concours of Elegance was the car’s first public outing since then, and its debut on British soil – plus it claimed the event’s prestigious 2023 Best of Show prize.

17. Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona Group 4 Competition

The Ferrari Daytona arrived in 1968, but the marque’s hesitancy to build a racing variant meant that official competition cars didn’t arrive until 1970.

The biggest changes were to the body: lightweight panels and Plexiglass windows helped to make the Daytona more nimble.

This example was campaigned by a privateer at Le Mans in 1972 and ’73, where its best finish was third in its class and ninth overall on its second attempt.

Today, it’s used for historic racing.

18. 1926 Amilcar CO

This modified French racer competed at Le Mans in the early 1930s.

Initially designed for voiturette racing, the little Amilcar didn’t sink among its bigger competitors and finished a respectable 20th overall in ’34.

After it was found partly restored in a garage in 2017, work has been carried out to get it ready to race once more.

19. 1965 Peel Trident

Usually, this Peel Trident could lay claim to being the smallest vehicle at most events. However, in the company of a diminutive Peel P50 and a 1897 Prinetti & Stucchi tricycle, we’re not so sure. 

Either way, this two-seat bubble car was an unexpected star of the show.

It’s powered by a single-cylinder engine and weighs just 150kg.

20. 1973 Citroën SM

This green Citroën SM was a real head-turner at Hampton Court Palace.

Fitted with a Maserati-sourced 2.7-litre V6, hydropneumatic suspension and a slippery body, this French classic had tough competition in the Thirty Under 30 concours. 

It lined up against a Triumph TR8, a Toyota MR2, a Citroën 2CV and more.

21. 1938 Delahaye Type 145 V12 Coupé

This one-of-four Type 145 emerged from the ashes of Delahaye’s racing department. This car was campaigned by Lucy O’Reilly Schell’s team Écurie Bleue between 1937 and ’39.

After WW2, the car was rebodied by Henri Chapron and fitted with a Type 165 V12 engine.

It now resides in the Mullin Automotive Museum in California.

22. 1974 Ferrari 365GT4 2+2

After being awarded the Club Trophy at the 2022 Concours of Elegance, this Ferrari four-seater was displayed in the main concours at this year’s event. 

A deserved winner, the blue Ferrari has covered just 25,000 miles from new and comes with heaps of history, including the original warranty card.

23. 1955 Pegaso Z-102 Touring Superleggera Berlinetta

Despite creating the world’s fastest production car in the mid-1950s, Pegaso built only commercial vehicles by the end of the decade, leaving behind the desirable Z-102 and a whiff of ‘what if?’

After a string of enthusiastic owners, this car was sympathetically restored but retains a largely original interior. It has been shown at concours events in Belgium and The Netherlands.

24. 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Monza

Those with a keen eye might already have noticed the Prancing Horse emblem on the side of this Alfa Romeo.

First registered to the Scuderia Ferrari racing team, it won the 1933 Swedish Grand Prix in the hands of Antonio Brivio; that same year, Tazio Nuvolari drove it in the Monaco Grand Prix.

It was another eye-catching classic car at Concours of Elegance 2023 from Fritz Burkard’s Pearl Collection.